49ers' Smith questions Crabtree's whereabouts

June 1, 2011MAIOCCO ARCHIVE49ERS PAGE 49ERS VIDEOMatt MaioccoCSNBayArea.comAlex Smith, the former and future quarterback of the 49ers, is not acting like a player who is unsigned and uncertain of his future.Smith spoke today with several members of the media at the site in the South Bay were a dozen or more 49ers have routinely showed up to work since the owners-imposed lockout. Tim Kawakami of the San Jose Mercury News provided a complete transcript of the entire interview.Here are some of the highlights:--When asked if he's definitely returning to the 49ers, Smith answered,"I think you've said it. The writing's out there. I'm not going to give a quote, but I think enough's been done."--When asked if a fresh start was an appealing idea, Smith admitted it was in the forefront of his mind when the season ended."The last couple years have been so frustrating because I feel like I'm capable of playing really good football and winning games in this league and that's what I want -- to win games more than anything," Smith said. "In looking at that and trying to weigh all the decisions that were out there so much of it went into play. And then this lockout, what if the lockout goes two weeks? What if it goes into the season? That impacts me. I'm going to have to learn a system. All that kind of stuff played into it."RELATED: NFL CBA Report, updated June 1
--Smith said he has been on the phone with every member of the 49ers' offense to arrange a quasi-minicamp for the entire team. But there will be little offense vs. defense. "I've talked to the defensive guys, Justin (Smith) and Pat (Willis) quite a bit. At this point, we're just going to keep it separate, let them they're on a different plan. They don't have as much of the playbook as we have. So we're really going to take off and get going."--There was a report two weeks ago that receiver Michael Crabtree would be joining the informal workouts. However, Crabtree has not taken part in any of the Smith-arranged throwing and catching sessions. When asked if he's spoken with Crabtree, Smith answered, "I've called Crabtree, yeah." And why isn't he working out with Smith and the others? "Great question. (You're) asking the wrong guy, honestly."--Smith said he wanted to get a good grasp of the playbook before arranging for a large workout involving his 49ers teammates."I've got a playbook," Smith said. "I've had it for a while (since April 29). I've worked extremely hard getting into it, immersing myself into it. And I really think that's, as far as the quarterback, the most important thing. And now I really feel I have a decent grasp of it. Enough to really be helpful to these guys."We're going to get everybody together and I'm really, as much as I've learned about it, going to give it to them."